104th Pct Report June 2018

Captain John Mastronardi

Photos of brazen burgalrs

Brazen burglars

Two Maspeth homes were burglarized in May which resulted in the burglars stealing a safe containing thousands of dollars in cash plus jewelry. The first incident happened May 25 at approximately 9:05 p.m. A male broke through the front door of a home on 52nd Avenue near 73rd Street. A safe containing $40,000 worth of jewelry and $20,000 in cash was removed. The second burglary happened May 31 at 10:45 a.m. when two suspects forcibly entered the back door of a home on 69th Street near 51st Avenue. They were scared off by a resident of the house. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

Maspeth shooter arrested

The 104th Precinct Detective Squad arrested a suspect involved in an April 14 shooting in Maspeth, while they continue to search for 3 others. Shaquille Sams, 21, the alleged trigger man, was nabbed April 25 and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree and is being held on $30,000 bond or $15,000 cash bail. The incident took place at the intersection of the Long Island Expressway westbound service road and 69th Place. Shots rang out shortly before 11pm and shattered the rear window of a taxi. The driver reported seeing approximately 6 men disperse from the area. Police located surveillance video that shows not only the incident, but the arrested suspect fleeing the scene with the weapon in his hand. Police recovered two shell casings from the scene as well as a bullet fragment from the backseat of the taxi driver's car. Anyone with information regarding the other suspects is asked to call the 104th Precinct Detective Squad at 718-386-2723, or Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. All calls are kept confidential.

Convicted child abuser is on the lam

Jose Para of Middle Village man was found guilty on April 27 of sexually abusing a minor but fled the courthouse before the verdict was read. In 2016, Para had stopped an 11-year-old girl on Albion Avenue in Elmhurst, struck up a conversation with her and then grabbed her right breast. The girl fled and told her teacher what had happened, which eventually led to Para's arrest. He faces up to 7 years behind bars for his conviction, and likely more for jumping bail. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1 (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

Dog stolen in domestic dispute

A Shi Tzu-Yorkie mix was stolen from inside an apartment on 56th Street near Arnold Avenue on April 22. The 21-year-old female victim told police that her 23-year-old ex-boyfriend entered the home using a spare key along with his mother and current girlfriend. The proceeded to assault the victim and ran off with her dog named Rizzo which had been given by the ex-boyfriend as a gift. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the 104th Precinct Detective Squad at 718-386-2723 or Detective Borough Queens North 718-520-9200. All calls are kept confidential.

Maspeth bar shut down for illegal activity

April 18 saw the State Liquor Authority suspend the liquor license of Huang Jia Lounge, located on 58th Street in western Maspeth. NBC reported the following: According to the State Liquor Authority, SLA investigators and officers with the New York City Police Department's Citywide Vice-Enforcement Division executed a search warrant of the bar on April 12. During the search warrant, investigators allegedly discovered 97 packs of counterfeit or untaxed cigarettes, jars and bags filled with the narcotic ketamine, records related to the sale of prostitution and illegal gambling devices. The NYPD made nine arrests, including the bar's owner, for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, a number of hazardous conditions were observed, including overcrowding, blocked exits and non-working emergency lighting, the State Liquor Authority says. Subsequent undercover visits revealed more illegal activity, resulting in the SLA's emergency license suspension.

Close call on 80th Avenue

A 23-year old Glendale man literally dodged several bullets on May 1 when 2 suspects opened fire on him in front of his 80th Avenue home. The 104th Pct is looking for Jeremy Maldonado, 22, and Ruben Cortez, 19, who both had a past beef with the victim. Maldonado is ~5'11 and ~180 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. His last known address was on 61st Street in Glendale. Cortez is 5'8 with brown hair and brown eyes. His last known address was on Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn. Anyone with information should contact the 104th Precinct Detective Squad at 718-386-2723 or Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. All calls are kept confidential.

Beware of roofing scammers

This is just a reminder that the nice weather is here again, which means that roofing scammers are on the prowl. These slick-talking scam artists prey mostly on the elderly by tricking them into thinking that they have a problem with the condition of their roofs. They generally will offer to waterproof the roof if they are paid cash up front but simply spray the roof with silver paint, which is useless. Anyone who believes they have encountered scammers should contact James Fleming with 104th Precinct at 718-386-2591.

Midville man sought for assault, phone theft

Ladislav Ruc, 36, of Middle Village is being sought for punching an acquaintance in the face and stealing his cell phone on April 13 on 67th Road. Ruc is 5'7 and weighs 160 lbs and his last known address was on 79th Place. The suspect first argued with the victim, then punched him in the face, picked up the victim's iPhone and fled in a gold Hyundai Elantra. Anyone with information regarding the suspect is asked to call the 104th Precinct Detective Squad at 718-386-2723, or Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. All calls are kept confidential.

Blowtorching bank robbers sent up the river

The Maspeth Federal Savings Bank on Woodhaven Boulevard in Rego Park was broken into on May 21, 2016 by burglars who blowtorched through the roof to enter the vault. They got away with $4.3 million in cash, diamonds, stock certificates, coins, baseball cards and other valuables, in addition to about $300,000 from the bank's vault. All of the players involved were recently brought to justice. In late March, Christopher Kerrigan was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison. On April 11, Charles Kerrigan was given 16 years and 4 months in prison. On April 13, Michael Mazzara received an 11-year sentence for the Rego Park robbery as well as one that he, Kerrigan and two others committed in Brooklyn in 2016. Anthony Mascuzzio was sentenced May 4 to 7 years in prison, and 3 years of supervised release. It seems that their big payday cost them greatly.

104th Pct seeking Mucinex thief

A man entered the Walgreens at Eliot Avenue & 80th Street at approximately 8:18 p.m. on April 27 and was observed to have removed 22 bottles of Mucinex from a store shelf. He then left the store without paying. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to notify the 104th Precinct Detective Squad at 718-386-2723, or Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. All calls are kept confidential.

Western Maspeth commercial truck burglary

On May 13, 2018, at approximately 0200 hours in the rear of 56-02 Maspeth Avenue, the above truck was used in the commission of a commercial burglary. The above individuals did strip 3 commercial box trucks of head lights, bumpers, engine hoods and truck doors. They did also take 3 GPS and 1 tablet from vehicle. Anyone with information regarding the above subject please notify Det. Christophe Gerardi at 718-386-2123 OR Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200.

Wanted for strong-armed robbery

Juan Rodriguez/Male/White Hispanic/40 years of age, DOB: 11/3/1977, NYSID 09047430M, Height 6' 2" Weight 250 lbs., Hair Black, Eyes Brown, Last known address: 1889 Cornelia Street, Ridgewood, NY 11385. The 104 squad is endeavoring to locate the pictured perpetrator in regards to a strong-armed robbery that occurred on 5/1/2018 in the rear of 66-26 Metropolitan Avenue/ Perpetrator did try to strike C/V with closed fist and did snatch cell phone iPhone 6S+ out of C/V's car. Perpetrator did flee in vehicle New York plate number GLJ7466. Anyone with information regarding the above subject please notify Det. Paul Palminteri at 718-386-2723 OR Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. Case# 2018-928, Complaint Report 2018-104-02928.

Porch package thief sought

This individual is wanted for petit larceny that occurred on May 10, 2018 AT 1517 hours in front of 61-73 69 Lane, 1st Floor. The above perpetrator did take packages that had been delivered and left on the porch of location unattended. Anyone with information regarding the above subject, please notify Det. Raymond Bazilio at 718-386-2723 OR Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. Case#2018-923, Complaint Report 2018-104-02912.

Seeking criminal contempt perpetrator

Patrick Taormina/Male/White/60 years of age/DOB: 01/27/1958, NYSID 14207262L, Height 5'8", Weight 170 lbs., Hair Gray, Eyes Brown, Last known address: 61-55 67 Street, Middle Village, NY 11379. The 104 Pct Detective Squad is endeavoring to locate the following subject in regards to a criminal contempt that occurred on May 11, 2018 at approximately 1550 hrs in front of 63-27 77 Place within the confined of the 104 Pct. Anyone with information regarding the above subject, please notify Det. Ronald Scrimenti at 718-386-2723 OR Detective Borough Queens North at 718-520-9200. Case# 2018-929, Complaint Report 2018-104-02932.

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Press Releases

The Juniper Park Civic Association will hold their annual holiday party and raffle on Thursday, December 13th, 2018 at 7:45pm at Our Lady of Hope Auditorium in Middle Village. The civic association will use this occasion to close out its 80th anniversary year.

Mayor de Blasio announced a major policy shift on February 28th which will eventually end the City's use of hotels and cluster sites as homeless shelters. The City now plans to build shelters in individual communities sized to accommodate the number of homeless that originate from them. This means homeless families and individuals will be able to remain in their own familiar neighborhoods while they rebuild their lives.